2022-2023 | CLASS ACT 29
tunities for our students.”
The Collaborative’s numerous
projects include a
summer internship program
for high school students
that offers the opportunity
to learn about a
specific career field and
earn a paycheck; a student
film summit and festival
that provides connections
to local film industry professionals;
the Be Pro Be
Proud Georgia initiative
that enables students to
learn more about skilled
professionals; and the Cherokee
Skilled Professions
Signing Day celebration.
Be Pro Be Proud Georgia,
launched in July 2020,
brings awareness of the
skilled professions directly
to students through an interactive
mobile workshop
and website that features 15
of Georgia’s most in-demand
careers along with
statewide training programs
and companies looking
to hire skilled workers.
The mobile workshop regularly
visits all of CCSD’s
high schools and middle
schools to provide students
the opportunity to learn
about careers through
hands-on activities.
The second annual
Cherokee Skilled Professions
Signing Day, which is
planned as an annual event,
was presented in May by
the Collaborative and Be
Pro Be Proud Georgia. Similar
to national signing days
for athletes, the event raised
awareness of the value of
the skilled professions by
celebrating CCSD high
school seniors who had
committed to pursuing advanced
technical training or
careers in one of Be Pro Be
Proud Georgia’s 15 top
skilled trades.
Woodstock High School
Class of 2021 graduate
Christian Preiser, who was
a Cherokee Skilled Professions
Signing Day honoree,
returned to speak at this
year’s event. After graduation,
Mr. Preiser turned his
passion for electrical work
into a profitable career as
an apprentice at Hewatt
Electrical Contractors.
“I get paid to do what I
love and am proud to be
working as an electrician –
a job that is truly satisfying
and making a difference,”
he said. “My company is
even providing on-the-job
training and paying for me
to become a certified electrical
worker at IBEW Local
613. Be Pro Be Proud Georgia
was a major catalyst for
my success.”
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